Bayern Munich predicted lineup vs RB Leipzig - Bundesliga
- Bayern desperately hoping to avoid fourth successive defeat
- Thomas Tuchel's departure from club this summer confirmed after Bochum loss
- Bavarian giants have lost key players such as Alphonso Davies, Serge Gnabry and Kingsley Coman to injury
By Euan Burns
Bayern Munich's hopes of retaining their Bundesliga crown could be fully extinguished if they fail to beat RB Leipzig at the Allianz Arena on Saturday.
The Bavarian giants sit eight points behind Bayer Leverkusen after last weekend's devastating loss to Bochum - their third defeat on the spin for the first time since 2015 - and face an uphill battle to overhaul Xabi Alonso's unbeaten side.
Thomas Tuchel will be leaving Bayern at the end of the season - that has already been confirmed, with Alonso tipped as a potential successor - but the former Champions League winner must put that disappoint behind to him to somehow galvanise his struggling players.
The German hasn't been helped by injury and disciplinary problems, many of which will affect the starting lineup he'll field against Leipzig. Here's how Tuchel may set out his side.
Bayern Munich predicted lineup vs RB Leipzig (4-2-3-1)
GK: Manuel Neuer - The veteran goalkeeper has stood by Tuchel, reports suggest, but may have a bigger fight on his hands in the future - retaining his place between the sticks.
RB: Joshua Kimmich - Injuries to Sacha Boey and Noussair Mazraoui should see the versatile Kimmich - who has Premier League clubs showing interest in his services - return to Bayern's backline.
CB: Matthijs de Ligt - The Dutchman's Bayern future has also been called into question, owing to a lack of regular starting minutes. There should be no doubts about De Ligt's starting place here, given Dayot Upamecano is serving a suspension.
CB: Kim Min-jae - The South Korean was sorely missed when away on Asian Cup duty, but he hasn't been able to stop the rot even when he's been in the side.
LB: Raphael Guerreiro - With Alphonso Davies likely to miss out through injury, Guerreiro is a shoo-in starter at left-back.
CM: Aleksandar Pavlovic - The 22-year-old has waited patiently for an opportunity in Bayern's first team, and his time has come because of a combination of injuries and poor form. Needs to stamp his authority in midfield to guarantee a future at the club.
CM: Leon Goretzka - Accused of playing 'negatively', Goretzka has likened Bayern's last three games to a "never-ending horror film". He'll hope for a happy ending here.
AM: Thomas Muller - The veteran lost his rag in interview last week, incensed at the drop in standards at Bayern. He was spot on.
RW: Leroy Sane - The good news is that no player in Europe's top five leagues has more assists than Sane (11). The bad news is that the last of his Bundesliga goals came at the end of October. That needs to change, quickly.n
LW: Jamal Musiala - Has all the ability in the world but for whatever reason just hasn't been at the races when Bayern have needed a big performance. Eight goals isn't a bad return for most, but when you're as good as Musiala it's not good enough.
ST: Harry Kane - Surely 29-goal Kane isn't going to join serial winners Bayern and end up finishing his first season without a trophy? Surely?
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